Lincoln Memorial

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Application requirements

Deadline

Jul 01, 2026

Recommendations

2 to 4

Updated for 2025-2026 application cycle

Every American jurisdiction in which you may practice law after graduation from law school requires each applicant for admission to the bar to meet character and fitness requirements as a condition of eligibility for admission. A character and fitness review will require truthful, accurate and complete reporting of all requested information related to past conduct that bar examiners may deem relevant to one’s fitness to practice law, in most jurisdictions including (but not limited to) all criminal arrests, charges, plea agreements, convictions, or instances of being taken into custody, as a juvenile or adult; all traffic violations except minor parking citations; involvement as a party to civil litigation; acts of fraud, dishonesty or lack of candor; educational discipline or misconduct; failure to pay financial obligations; and substance abuse. Many jurisdictions require disclosure of all criminal arrests, charges, plea agreements or convictions, as a juvenile or adult, even where the record has been expunged.

It should be noted, however, that while bar admission boards require a complete disclosure of requested information, in many instances past relevant conduct, particularly if isolated and/or not recent, has not resulted in denial or delay of admission to the bar in a particular jurisdiction of interest. (This is not to suggest or predict how any jurisdiction’s bar admissions board would respond to any applicant’s particular conduct disclosures going forward.)

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. If you are uncertain where you will practice law, you may wish to review the Standard NCBE Character and Fitness Application, titled Request for Preparation of a Character Report, of the National Conference of Bar Examiners, which is used by a number of jurisdictions’ bar admission authorities. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available at www.ncbex.org.

A failure to truthfully, accurately and completely respond to a character and fitness inquiry, however, is commonly deemed a character and fitness violation in and of itself, and may be more detrimental to bar admission prospects than the undisclosed or incorrectly disclosed underlying conduct.

Because of the stringent character and fitness qualifications for admission to the bar, the Lincoln Memorial University - Duncan School of Law requires full disclosure in response to all questions. The application must be filled out completely. Failure to provide information may delay the process and require more time and effort at an inopportune time. Answer all questions honestly, as failure to do so may result in sanctions. Failure to disclose information often yields a more serious outcome than the matter itself would have produced had it been revealed by the applicant.

The questions asked in this section of this application are the exact questions we are asked about your file when you apply to sit for the bar examination. The investigative body does not disclose the information it possesses; rather, it compares what you disclosed on your application to the information it gathered independently.

The ABA precludes the admission of applicants who do not appear capable of satisfactorily completing a legal program of study and being admitted to the bar. Similar questions to the ones listed below will be asked of you at the time of application for admission to the bar, so candor and full disclosure is essential.

Have you ever been arrested?
Have you ever been accused of a violation of trust?
Have you ever been dropped from any educational institution?
Have you ever been suspended from any educational institution?
Have you ever been expelled from any educational institution?
Have you ever been asked to resign from any educational institution?
Have you ever been otherwise disciplined by any educational institution?
Have you ever been a party to a legal proceeding?
Have you ever been a party to proceedings before an administrative agency?
Have you ever been addicted to the use of narcotics?
Have you ever been addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors?
Have you ever been afflicted with or received treatment for an emotional disturbance?
Have you ever been afflicted with or received treatment for a mental disorder?
Have you ever been afflicted with or received treatment for a nervous disorder?
Have you ever been denied admission to the Bar of any state?
Have you ever been delinquent in any financial obligations?

If you answer "yes" to any of the above questions, you must fully explain the nature of each incident. Answering "yes" to any question does not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for admission. The Admissions Committee would like the opportunity to review all relevant facts including (but not limited to) the issue(s), the offense(s), the date(s) of the offense(s), the law enforcement agency involved and disposition, including fine(s), court costs or other penalties, etc. Please include the corresponding question number(s) and question(s) for each explanation.

If you need to provide additional details or documentation, beyond the available space here, please attach explanation(s) to the Character and Fitness attachment. You should entitle the document “Character and Fitness Explanation(s) of [Your Full Name]” and describe in detail the facts of each incident. Please include the corresponding question number(s) and question(s) for each explanation.

If you need to report additional incidents after submitting your application, please email your explanation(s) with a subject line titled "Character and Fitness Explanation(s) of [Your Full Name]" to law.admissions@lmunet.edu.

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY -- JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR. SCHOOL OF LAW
OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS
601 WEST SUMMIT HILL DRIVE
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37902-2003

Email: law.admissions@LMUnet.edu
LMU Law Website: https://law.LMUnet.edu
LSAC Code (for LSAT Applicants): 1977
ETS Code (for GRE Applicants): 4002

JD APPLICATION FOR THE FALL 2026 FULL-TIME PROGRAM

The following instructions are for applicants to the full-time program for fall 2026. The program begins in early August annually.

To be eligible to earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from LMU Law, students must complete a minimum of 90 credit hours. The course of study for a J.D. degree must be completed within a period of no fewer than 24 months and, except in extraordinary circumstances, no more than 84 months after beginning law school, including any time spent at an institution from which LMU Law accepts transfer credit.

THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

There are a limited number of seats available in the full-time program. The likelihood of receiving an offer of admission or scholarship generally decreases as the cycle progresses; therefore, applicants are encouraged to complete their files earlier rather than later. It is possible that worthy applicants who apply late in the admissions cycle may not receive an offer of admission and/or the level of scholarship they might otherwise earn had they applied earlier.

Applicant files will be reviewed holistically. Offers made will be based on the credentials and experience presented related to institutional goals for the program, the number of acceptances received to date, and the remaining seats available. Even highly qualified applicants are not guaranteed admission due to seat limitations.

Admission decisions are based on a thorough review of each applicant's file. While the LSAT or GRE score and cumulative undergraduate GPA are considered significant, multiple factors are considered when making a decision. Applicants who demonstrate that they possess the qualities and characteristics necessary to succeed in the study and practice of law will be selected for admission.

Scholarship opportunities will be considered as applications are reviewed. There is not a separate scholarship application. Scholarship recipients will be notified at the same time they are informed of an offer of admission. It is possible that not everyone will receive a scholarship despite being admitted.

LMU Law seeks to attract and retain students whose goals align with the institution's mission and purpose. Admitting applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences enhances the educational experience of all students. Strong consideration will be given to those who desire to serve smaller, underserved, and underrepresented populations throughout the Appalachian region and beyond.

Admission decisions are communicated in writing.

Admitted applicants must return the acceptance form(s) and pay a seat deposit by the acceptance deadline indicated in their offer letter to secure a place in the entering class. The seat deposit amount and submission deadline are provided in the admission letter. Seat deposits are non-refundable but will be credited toward tuition and fees upon matriculation.

APPLICATION AND PRIORITY CONSIDERATION DEADLINES

The application deadline for the full-time program is July 1, 2026. The priority consideration deadline is March 15, 2026. We hope to fill the available seats with applicants who apply by the priority consideration deadline; however, we will continue to review applications and make offers until the application deadline.

CHARACTER AND FITNESS

The legal profession is demanding. The admissions process is designed to ascertain if a particular applicant has the requisite academic preparation, temperament, and desire to practice this noble profession. LMU Law reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant who, in the judgment of the faculty or its designee, does not demonstrate the character and fitness expected of a member of the legal profession.

Furthermore, a degree conferred by LMU Law does not certify an individual as "fit" to practice law in any jurisdiction. Fitness to practice law is determined by the state board of law examiners in the jurisdiction where an individual seeks a license. The licensing process typically requires a background check. Applicants should review licensure standards in the jurisdiction of interest before matriculation.

Standard 504(a) of the ABA Standards, Interpretations, and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools requires us to make you aware of the following:

For information on jurisdictions, please visit the NCBE website (https://www.ncbex.org/jurisdictions).

If you are uncertain where you will practice law, you may wish to review the NCBE Sample Application (https://www.ncbex.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/NCBE-Character-and-Fitness-Sample-Application-4.pdf), which is used by many jurisdictions' bar admission authorities.

Because of the stringent character and fitness qualifications for admission to the bar, LMU Law requires full disclosure in response to all questions in the application. If you answer 'yes' to any question in the Character and Fitness section, you must provide an explanation in the space provided on the application and also upload a separate written attachment. Title your document 'Character and Fitness Explanation ? [Your Full Name]' and attach it to your application. Each explanation should include the corresponding question number and text. Be sure to fully describe the nature of each incident and provide a detailed account of the relevant facts.

If you need to provide additional documentation or report other incidents after submitting your application, you can email your explanation(s) with the subject line "Character and Fitness Explanation of [Your Full Name]" to the Office of Admissions at law.admissions@LMUnet.edu.

Answering "yes" to any question does not automatically disqualify you from consideration. The Admission and Scholarship Committee would like the opportunity to review all relevant facts, including (but not limited to) the issue(s), the offense(s), the date(s) of the offense(s), the law enforcement agency involved and disposition, including fine(s), court costs or other penalties, etc.

ABA Standard 501(b) precludes the admission of applicants who do not appear capable of satisfactorily completing a legal program of study and being admitted to the bar.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To be considered for admission, an applicant must hold or be able to obtain a baccalaureate (bachelor's) degree before matriculation from an institution accredited by a regional accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.

LMU Law neither requires specific courses nor endorses any particular field of study in preparation for legal studies. However, those considering a legal program of study are encouraged to pursue a curriculum that emphasizes analytic and problem-solving skills, critical reading abilities, writing skills, oral communication and listening abilities, general research skills, and task organization and management skills.

The American Bar Association (https://www.americanbar.org/) and Law School Admission Council (https://www.lsac.org/) websites offer excellent information on various topics that aspiring attorneys may find informative.

The following items must be received for an applicant's file to be considered for admission:

1. Application for Admission

Each applicant is required to complete the current application for admission. We cannot use applications or documents submitted for prior academic terms for the current term.

All questions must be answered completely and accurately. Failure to do so may result in delays, denial of admission, or rescission of an offer.

Applicants are encouraged to maintain a copy of the supporting documents and the application submitted. Most state boards of law examiners require applicants to recite information from their law school application(s) when applying to take the bar examination. Therefore, it would be helpful to make a copy of your law school application for your records to refer to when preparing to apply for the bar exam.

2. An Admission Test

An approved admission test is required for consideration. Applicants may take either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). LMU Law does not accept JDNext as a substitute for an admission test.

a. LSAT: Applicants may take the LSAT one or more times. While the high score achieved will be used for reporting purposes, the Admission and Scholarship Committee will consider ALL SCORES when making an admission decision

The LSAT is administered numerous times each year. The deadline to apply to take each exam varies, but a general rule is approximately six weeks before the administration of each LSAT.

To register for the LSAT, visit the Law School Admission Council's website (https://www.lsac.org/LSATdates). Only scores achieved within five years of matriculation will be considered.

Applicants who find it difficult to pay for the LSAT may be eligible to apply for a waiver from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Detailed information about a waiver can be located through the LSAC (https://www.lsac.org/lsat/register-lsat/lsat-cas-fees/fee-waiver).

b. GRE: An applicant can take the GRE instead of the LSAT. However, if an applicant has taken the LSAT, the admission decision will be based on the LSAT score. GRE scores obtained before August 2021 will not be accepted for fall 2026 or subsequent enrollment.

Applicants who take the GRE must apply to LMU Law through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website and participate in the LSAC Credential Assembly Service. All official academic transcripts and letters of recommendation must be sent directly to LSAC?s Credential Assembly Service.

Applicants who elect to take the GRE (instead of the LSAT) must also instruct the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send all scores from the prior five-year period to LMU Law.

The ETS code for LMU Law is 4002 (Lincoln Memorial U. Duncan School of Law). Please note that there are multiple codes for the various graduate programs at LMU, and we will not be notified if you submit your scores to a different department within the university. Further, we will not receive your scores unless they are sent to the correct department.

3. At Least Two Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must submit at least two (2) letters of recommendation. Individuals providing recommendations should be able to comment on your aptitude for legal study and promise as a practitioner. Furthermore, recommendations should be based on personal observations of your academic or professional work, with specific examples being most helpful. In selecting references, applicants should focus on the strength of their professional working relationship with the individual rather than their stature. The Admissions Committee finds little value in letters submitted by references whose observations stem solely from a personal relationship with your family. Moreover, letters repeating information gleaned from your application are equally unpersuasive.

Applicants are encouraged to submit all letters through the Law School Admission Council's Credential Assembly Service. Using the Credential Assembly Service permits applicants to verify receipt of their letters of recommendation and track delivery to law schools by accessing their online accounts. Additionally, documents can be easily regenerated in the event of an error.

Although LMU Law will accept recommendation letters submitted by the authors directly to the Office of Admissions, there are no guarantees that all letters will arrive. In the event of a mishap or delivery failure, documents cannot be easily regenerated. Additionally, failure to use the LSAC Credential Assembly Service may delay the processing and review of your application.

Finally, letters of recommendation submitted to the LSAC Credential Assembly Service must be assigned by you from your LSAC account to each school to which you apply. Please remember to assign them to Lincoln Memorial University--John J. Duncan Jr. School of Law; otherwise, your file will remain incomplete until assigned to us.

The four-digit LSAC code for the Lincoln Memorial University--John J. Duncan, Jr. School of Law is 1977.

4. Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report/Law School Report

In addition to registering and paying for the LSAT (or GRE through the ETS), all applicants must register with the Law School Admission Council?s Credential Assembly Service. The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registration fee is currently $215. Additionally, applicants must pay a $45 Law School Report fee for each law school to which they elect to send a CAS Report. Nearly all ABA-approved law schools require a CAS Report to consider your application for admission.

Applicants who find it challenging to pay the CAS Report fee may apply for a waiver from LSAC. Detailed information and qualifications can be located through the LSAC site (https://www.lsac.org/lsat/register-lsat/lsat-cas-fees/fee-waiver).

Detailed registration information, the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and required fees can be found at the LSAC site (https://www.lsac.org/lsat/register-lsat/lsat-cas-fees).

Once registered, you must send the Credential Assembly Service official transcripts from every educational institution you have attended since graduating from high school. This includes community colleges, universities, and professional schools. The Credential Assembly Service centralizes the collection of college transcripts and letters of recommendation required for law school admission decisions. CAS sends your official transcripts to each law school in what is known as a "CAS Report." All transcripts must have been received before an applicant's CAS Report is released.

5. Writing Sample

a. Applicants Submitting LSAT Scores

You must complete at least one LSAT Argumentative Writing Exercise. The LSAT Argumentative Writing Exercise must be completed independently of the Law School Admission Test. Information about the LSAT Argumentative Writing Exercise can be obtained on the LSAC's website (https://www.lsac.org/lsat/about/lsat-argumentative-writing).

Once your application, personal statement, letters of recommendation, CAS Report/Law School Report, and LSAT Writing Sample are received, your file will be deemed "complete" and forwarded to the Admission and Scholarship Committee and the Dean for consideration.

b. Applicants Submitting GRE Scores

The GRE Analytical Writing section is a required component of the Graduate Record Exam. It will be scored by the ETS and provided to the law school as part of your score report.

6. Academic Addendum, If Needed

If your cumulative undergraduate grade point average improved or decreased dramatically over time, we strongly advise you to attach an addendum explaining the increase or decrease. The explanation need not be lengthy, but it should clearly describe your circumstances. The Committee wants to understand what occurred from your perspective.

7. Character and Fitness Addendum, If Needed

If you need to respond completely to a question or questions from your application's Character and Fitness section, you should attach each explanation in the Attachments section. Please include the question number(s) and question(s). Please include the number(s) and question(s) to which you are responding.

8. Personal Statement and/or Other Addenda

As an applicant, you can attach a personal statement and/or any other addenda. While not required, these documents would assist the Committee with understanding you as an applicant. The document(s) could expand further into responses you provided in your application, or they may provide additional information you want the Committee to consider.

The responses must be your own work, prepared without assistance from others, professional writing services, or generative artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT.

IF AN OFFER OF ADMISSION IS MADE...

If the Committee offers admission, admitted students must submit an acceptance form to the Office of Admissions by a specific deadline. Failure to return the form by the deadline date will result in the termination of the offer and forfeiture of the seat. If a scholarship is offered, both signature fields on the acceptance form must be signed and submitted (one to accept admission to the law school and the other to accept the scholarship).

Incoming students must submit a final official transcript from every educational institution attended directly to the LSAC's Credential Assembly Service. If you have already submitted an official transcript from a college or university and have not taken any additional classes at that institution, then you will not be required to submit an additional transcript for that school. Moreover, you must submit an official transcript from any school where you have taken classes since you originally submitted them to LSAC. At least one transcript must indicate a bachelor's degree award from an accredited institution recognized by the United States Department of Education.

All transcripts must be received, processed, and verified by LSAC before Orientation. If all transcripts are not received, you may be unable to matriculate.

If you plan to graduate in August of the year you intend to matriculate in law school, please contact the Office of Admissions for guidance.

PREVIOUSLY DISQUALIFIED APPLICANTS

LMU Law considers the admission of applicants who have been disqualified academically from another law school. An applicant who was disqualified academically must demonstrate that he or she possesses the requisite ability to succeed in our legal education program. You must also demonstrate that the previous disqualification does not indicate a lack of capacity to complete the course of study at our law school, that extraordinary circumstances contributed to his or her inability to meet the academic requirements, and that the conditions resulting in the student?s academic disqualification have been remedied or no longer exist.

An applicant who was academically disqualified cannot apply for admission until one calendar year has expired since the student's disqualification. For example, if you were disqualified academically on December 15, 2024, then you cannot apply for admission to LMU Law until after December 16, 2025.

In addition to an application, letters of recommendation, and a Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report, to be considered for admission, an applicant who has been disqualified academically must provide two separate written statements:

A statement detailing the nature of interim work, activity, or studies that occurred since the disqualification; and
A statement describing why you believe that you now have more substantial potential for the study of law and are likely to complete the course of study at LMU Law successfully.

The statements should be attached to the application through the "Attachments" tab of your LSAC account. Alternatively, the statements can be sent to law.admissions@LMUnet.edu. The responses can be uploaded as a single file if both questions are addressed separately. Moreover, the responses cannot be combined into a single essay. The Committee will not review a single combined response; each question must be addressed separately and clearly.

Finally, you must send an official transcript from the law school from which he or she was dismissed to LSAC?s Credential Assembly Service.

FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)

Applicants who may rely in whole or part on the federal student loan program to finance their legal education must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you file a tax return, a copy of your most recent return is needed to complete the FAFSA. Applicants are encouraged to complete this process as soon as practicable to ensure funds will be available upon arrival at LMU's Duncan School of Law. Lincoln Memorial University's code is 003502. Although the law school is in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, LMU's main campus is in Harrogate, Tennessee. Be sure to select the Harrogate campus when completing your FAFSA, as all LMU sites?including the law school?use that location for financial aid purposes. LMU has 15 extended sites, all of which use the Harrogate campus for the FAFSA and financial aid. Detailed instructions are available at StudentAid.gov.

STATEMENT ON ACCREDITATION AND APPROVAL

Lincoln Memorial University--John J. Duncan, Jr. School of Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738.

LMU Law encourages applicants to confirm the legal education requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission to the bar by contacting the state bar admission agencies of the jurisdiction. Contact information for all relevant agencies is available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DISCLOSURE

Because the American Bar Association?s Council approved the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, as part of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, the law school meets the state educational requirements for licensure in all fifty states of the United States of America, as well as the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are no U.S. states or territories for which the law school?s full-time program curriculum does not meet the state educational requirements for professional licensure or certification.

Contact information for all relevant bar admissions agencies is available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners (https://ncbex.org/).

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